Weighing and sorting machine



Oct. 31, 1939. c. A. FAUSEL WEIGHING AND SORTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 25, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet INVE TOR.

A TTORNEYS.

Oct. 31, 1939, c, A, FAUSEL 2,178,203

WEIGHING AND SORTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 25, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Hill] n Oct. 31, 1939. c. A. FAUSEL WEIGHING AND SORTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 25, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 r u n m w z I69 FIG. 7Q

IN VEN Oct. 31, 1939. c. A. FAUSEL WEIGHING AND SORTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 25,- 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet QMWBMBWBMD A TTORNEYS.

Patented Oct. 31, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE Application August 25,

5 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in weighing and sorting machines adapted for automatically assorting, separating or classifying articles or materials into various grades or classes according to the weight of the article or material, in a rapid and eflicient manner.

In the handling of foodstuiis, special precautions must be taken to meet sanitary requirements and provisions must be made to enable the eflicient operation of sorting and wei hing de vices in damp and humid atmospheres, which are so prevalent in some types of food processing industries. The machine herein disclosed is particularly adapted for the assorting of oyster meats, clam meats, shrimp, and fish fillets.

But obviously the machine is adapted for use in many other situations.

Where natural food products are graded, considerable variations of the character of the article are encountered due to seasons, improper development or growth conditions, etc. As the appearance and weight of the product are eiiected, it is highly desirable that such products be separated into different grades.

It is, therefore, anobject of this invention to provide a machine for automatically weighing and sorting various food products and other articles according to the weight thereof, and automatically discharging said articles into receptacles placed at predetermined positions.

As certain foodstuffs will absorb or lose varying percentages of weight during processing, thus increasing their count per unit measure, provisions are made to readily accommodate for such behavior.

To reduce complication in construction, the usual type of parallel link weighing mechanism is dispensed with and a simple lever type of mechanism is adopted. In so doing, specially constructed scale pans are provided to concentrate the mass of the article weighed, for all practical purposes, in a predetermined position and thus eliminate the inaccuracies ordinarily common to this method of weighing.

A further object is the provision in a weighing and sorting machine, of means to automatically disconnect the source of power should undue strain be placed upon the machine.

A further object the provision of means for flushing the scale pan and other parts of the ma chine receiving articles, so that such articles will be easily discharged from the machine when desired.

These and other advantageous objects, which will later appear, are accomplished by the sim- 1937, Serial No. 160,789

ple and practical construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and exhibited in the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the machint 3 having the invention applied thereto,

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are perspective views showing different types of scale pans,

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the machine with the upper casing removed and portions partly broken away and in section,

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail showing the means of detachably supporting various scale pans in position,

Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation of the machine taken substantially on the line T--': of Fig. 5,

Fig. 7A is a fragmentary sectional detail illustrating the overload release mechanism,

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the base or" the machine with parts broken away and in section taken substantially on line B8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing in detail a complete scale mechanism,

Fig. 10 is a stretch-out view of the scale track,

Figs. 11, 12 and 13 are illustrative views showing the manner in which a percentage increase or decrease of the various grades may be accomplished by adjustment, and

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary view to illustrate the cooperation between the grade selecting comb of the machine and the selector pin on the weighing mechanism.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the machine comprises a series of scale pans 39 mounted on the beams 3! of the weighing mechanism. As viewed, the 3:; scale pans 3i] rotate continuously from right to left passing beneath a hopper 32 which has a door 33 timed to open when a scale pan is in the proper position beneath it. An operator places the article to be graded in the hopper 32 from which it is deposited into a scale pan, and while being carried in the pan, the article is weighed and in accordance with its weight deposited in the various buckets 35, 36, 31, 38 and 39 (see also Figure 5) placed in predetermined positions around the periphery of the machine. An upper casing 4!] laps over a lower casing ll (see alsn Figure 7) and the scale beams 31 are formed to travel without interference in the space provided. by the lap. The lap in the casing and the form in the scale beams are provided so that water or other fluid will shed from the machine and will not enter and be deposited on the ilterior mechanism.

Referring particularly to Figures '7 suit he as machine has a base 42 supported by the three legs A l and 45. A stud 46 is fixed in the center of the base and mounted to turn freely thereon is a spider 4'5 (see also Figure 5) carrying a series of scale mechanisms of which the scale beam Si is a part. Fixed also to the stud 58 is the scale track 48 and the sub-base 49. A gear 543 is fixed to the spider 4'? and is driven by a pinion 5! through a set of intermediate gears 52 mounted on a stud 53 fixed on the short arm of the spring pressed lever 54. The lever 54 (see Fig. 7a) is freely mounted on a sleeve 55 fixed in the base 42, said sleeve also acting as a bearing for the shaft 56 on which is secured the pinion 5!. The lower end of the shaft 56 carries a worm wheel 571' which meshes with a worm 58 fixed to a shaft 59 rotatably mounted in a gear housing 6% secured on the base 42. A coupling 6! is fixed at one end to the shaft 59 and at the other end to the shaft of a motor 62 suspended from the base 42. The motor, through the train of gears just described, drives the spider 47 and hence the scale pans 30 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 5.

The scale mechanism The scale mechanism is illustrated in Figure 9, and the scale beam M which is of circular crosssection is rotatably mounted in a carrier 65. The carrier 65 (see also Figure 5) has two extensions 66 in which are inserted adjustable pivots 6'! that engage with pivot bearings 68 fixed to the arms of the spider 41. A collar 69 is secured to the scale beam 3! and a recess therein en-.

gages with a spring pressed detent 10 in the carrier 65. The engagement of the detent with the recess in the collar retains the scale pan 30 in its horizontal position and another recess (not shown) in the collar 69 spaced approximately at right angles to that illustrated will, on engagement with the detent It, retain the scale pan in a vertical or discharging position when the scale beam 3! is rotated as hereinafter described. A washer ll and cotter l2 retain the scale beam 3! in a fixed relation with the carrier 65 and prevent any axial displacement due to the pressure of the detent H3.

On the right hand end of the scale beam 3| as viewed in Figure 9 is a roller !3 and adjacent thereto is secured a lever '54. A stepped roller i5 is retained on the scale beam between the lever "a l and a clip F6. The scale pan 30 is detachably mounted to the left end of the scale. beam at by means of a sleeve H which is anintegral part of the pan. A spring pressed latch 18 (see also Figure 6) slidably mounted on the stud 19 fixed in the scale beam 3i engages with a formed slot 833 (as shown in Figures 2, 3, and 4) in the sleeve ii to retain the pan in position. The pan is readily removed for substitution or sterilization by forcing the latch it against its spring, thereby disengaging it from the circular end of the slot til and thus permitting the narrow portion of the slot to pass by the stud 19.

An extension 8! of the carrier 65 has afiixed a selector rod 82 one end of which is formed in the shape of a knife-edge 83. The rod 82 assumes a fixed relationship to the position of the scale pan 3:3 and, as hereinafter described, deteimines the proper grade or class to which an article in the pan belongs. An angularly disposed, downwardly depending rod 84 is also secured to the carrier 65 and adjustably mounted thereon is a counterweight 85. The angle of the rod t l is such that the force of gravity acting The scale track The movements of the various scale. mechanisms are controlled by the scale track 43. As shown in Figures '7, 9 and 10, the scale track has a series of five grooves 83, 89, till, Si, and 92 which are disposed radially with respect to the center of oscillation of the scale mechanism. A groove is provided for each grade desired and although five grades are shown, it is obvious that the machine is not limited to that number. Fixed on the ridges between the grooves are pins 93, 94, 95, 96, 91 and 9%, which, as will be later explained, trip the scale pans at predetermined places to discharge their contents. The inclined surfaces 99 and Hit are positioned between the entering end IGI and discharge end 502 of the grooves and control the scale mechanism while it is being loaded and being brought into a state of equilibrium. The grooves and the inclined surfaces encompass the end of the scale beams 3i and particularly, as shown in Fig. 9, the roller 13. When a scale beam 3! moves into engagement with a groove, an arm Hi3 (Figure 10) of the lever M is in position to be acted upon as, for instance, by one of the pins 83. Further movement of a scale beam 3! toward the left in Figure 10 causes it to be turned in a clockwise direction by the arm I03 as illustrated at the position of the pin 94. At the pin 95 is shown a scale beam partly rotated by engagement of the pin and arm H 3. When a scale beam is rotated in this manner its corresponding scale pan 3E3 assumes a Vertical position as shown in Figure l and enables the scale pan to discharge its contents. The scale pan 3%] is returned to its horizontal position by an arm Hi l of the lever 14 striking a. pin as shown at the positions of pins 91 and 98. The pins 95 to 92 inclusive act in a dual capacity and are in position to discharge or return to normal a scale pan according to the particular groove with which a scale beam is associated, whereas the pin will only be instrumental in discharging a scale mechanism in groove 88 and the pin as will only act to restore to normal a scale mechanism in groove 92.

The inclined surfaces as and ltd have lobes I85 and H16 respectively and at this position restrain the scale mechanism against oscillation by engaging the roller l3 of the scale beam 3!. The hopper 32 (Figure 1) discharges its contents into a scale pan 35 while the scale mechanism is so restrained and thus no vibration of the scale mechanism can occur while the scale pan is being loaded. The inclined edges Ill"; and it respectively of the plates 99 and its act as cams to bring the scale mechanisms into loading position. and the corresponding slightly inclined edges I09 and I it] support the scale mechanisms until they find their equilibrium level. When the scale mechanisms reach their equilibrium level, they will disengage from the inclines we or H9 and will continue to travel at that level toward the entering end ml of the scale track without vibration.

Referring particularly to Figures 5 and 7, the stepped rollers I5 are positioned between a. series of rods III fixed in the spider. These rollers I5 are normally clear of engagement with the rods III as such contact would, due to friction, interfere with the free movement of the scale mechanism. However, when one of the levers 14 strike any of the pins 93 to 98 inclusive the slight clearance between a roller I5 and a rod III is taken up and the roller, through engagement with the rod, assists in relieving the strain on the scale mechanism while the scale beam is being rotated from normal to discharge position or vice versa.

I groove inthe scale track 48 by the selecting mechanism. This mechanism also provides a ready means for conveniently changing the relationship between the various grades and also permitting a percentage adjustment in all grades should such regulation be required due to a gain or loss in weight of the article during processing.

In Figs. 5, '7, and 9 a selecting comb H5 is detachably mounted on a shaft II6 which is free to turn in the bearings of a bracket III fixed on the sub-base 49. An adjustable stop H8 is secured in the sub-base 49 and a spring I I9 urges the selecting comb in the position shown. An arm I29 depending from the shaft H6 is in the path of a cam lever I2 I, the lever being pivoted on at stud I22 fixed in the sub-base 49. A cam roll I23 mounted on the lever I2I engages with a multi-lobed cam I24 which is secured tothe rods III thus causing the cam to rotate with the spider 41. The selecting comb I I5 has a series of teeth with points I25, I26, I21 and I28 (see also Figure 14), the teeth being adapted to coopcrate with the knife edges 83 on the selector rods 82 carried by the scale mechanisms. The roots 13s, I3I, I32, I33 and I3 of the teeth are equally spaced in a fixed position and when a knife-edge 83 is in engagement with one of the roots, the corresponding scale beam 3| of the scale mechanism will bealigned to enter one of the respective grooves 88, 89, 90, SI and 92 of the scale track 43. As shown in Fig. 9, the root I32 of the selecting comb teeth is in engagement with the knife-edge 83 thus registering the scale beam SI with the groove in the scale track 48.

Just prior to the time that a scale mechanism is about to enter a groove in the leading edge IOI of the scale track 48 the teeth of the comb I I 5' are raised clear of the knife edge 83 (Fig. 12) through engagement of the roll I 23 on the cam. arm. I'2I' with one of the lobes of the multi-lobed cam I24. As the scale mechanism continues toward the grooves the comb I I 5 is lowered by the spring I I9 and registers the knife-edge 83 with one of the roots of the comb. As illustrated in Fig. 14, the dot-dash lines show a knife-edge 83 in the position occupied by the grade controlled between the tooth points I29 and I21. Further descent of the comb I I5 urges the knife-edge along the inclined face of the tooth until it rests, as shown by the full lines, in the root I32. This particular relationship guides the scale mechanism into the groove 99 (Fig. 9), and, continued travel of the scale mechanism in that groove causes the dischearge of the associated scale pan 3!] in a predetermined place as the arm I 93 (Fig. 10) strikes the pin 95. Thereafter, the movement of the scale mechanism forces the arm I04 into engagement with the pin 98 and returns the associated scale pan to its normal position. In Fig. 10, the

relative position of the selecting comb with respect to the entering end IIlI of the scale track is indicated by broken lines I I5 and, to aid the comb in aligning the scale mechanism with the grooves, the bevelled members I35 are provided.

To change the relationship of the different grades the positions of the tooth points I25, I26, I21 and I28 are varied. For instance, in Fig. 14, if the point I2! was moved to the left, the grade between points I25 and I21 would receive fewer articles from the mass to be sorted and the grades between points 52? and I28 would receive more. In this manner any desired number of grade combinations may be obtained by substituting a selecting comb I I5 with the required tooth point positions.

As previously stated the products graded may gain or lose a percentage of their weight during process and to provide for this variation during the sorting of the articles, novel means are incorporated in the machine. The machine is normally operated so that it is level and to secure this condition two of the three legs 44 and 45 (Figs. 1 and 7) have adjustment screws I36 and I31. The third leg 13 which, as shown in Fig. 7, is directly under the selecting mechanism position has an adjustable sleeve I 3.8, and when the machine is level the upper end of the sleeve registers with the 0 marking on a scale engraved on the leg 43. The scale mechanism is of the gravity type and will assume definite position when loaded regardless of the manner in which the machine proper stands. It is obvious from the construction of the machine that the grade to which a particular article belongs is determined only at the selecting mechanism position and should the relationship of the tooth points I25, I26, I2! and I28 be altered with respect to the knife-edge 83, the grade in which a given article is to be deposited may also be changed.

As illustrated in Figure 12, the sleeve I38 is on 0 position with respect to the leg 43 and the machine is in a level position. The knife-edge 83 of the scale mechanism is about to be urged by the selecting comb M5 into engagement with the tooth root Hi2. However, if the machine proper had been thrown out of level by adjusting the sleeve I33 as exaggerated in Fig. 11, the knife-edge I33 would now cooperate with the tooth root IBI thus causing the article carried by the scale mechanism. to be deposited in a different grade. Likewise, if the machine had been set out of level in the opposite direction as shown in Fig. 13, the same article would be placed into a still different grade as the knife-edge 33 would now coact with the tooth root I33. The conditions represented in Fig. 11 would place a percentage of the lighter articles to the left of their normal position, thus lowering the quantity of articles in all grades, whereas the condition shown in Fig. 13 would permit a percentage of the heavier articles to be controlled by the comb points to the right of their normal position thereby lowering the count in all grades.

For purposes of illustration, the tilting of the machine has been greatly exaggerated and an article normally controlled by the tooth root I32 has been shown to be thrown by undue adjustment to the grades controlled by the tooth roots ISI and By judicious adjustment of the sleeve I38, however, a slight tilting of the machine will produce corresponding percentage variations in the diiierent grades. As an example, if the count in a particular grade should be one hundred per unit meas e after processing and a five percent loss in weight must be provided for, the machine would be adjusted in a manner similar to that in Figure 13 until the count per unit measure was ninety-five. Likewise, should the article absorb a five percent gain in weight during process, an adjustment similar to that in Fig. 11 would be made until the count per unit measure would be one hundred and five.

Hopper mechanism The articles to be sorted are placed singly in the hopper 32 (Figs. 1, and '7) by the operator and at the proper time are deposited by the hopper into the scale pans 36 through the opening of the hopper door 33. The door 33 is pivoted on a shaft I46 fixed to the hopper and a retractable pin I4I connects the door to an adjustable link I42. An extension I43 of the link M2 is attached to the arm I44 of a lever I45 which is pivotally secured to the sub-base 49 by a stud I46. The link extension I43 passes through a guide and a collar fixed to the exten sion normally retains the door 38 in the closed position shown. The short arm I49 of the lever I45 carries a cam roll I56 which coacts with the multi-lobed cam I24. Rotation of the cam vibrates the lever I45, and, when a scale pan 36 is properly located beneath the hopper, the door is opened through the mechanism just described and the article contained in the hopper is deposited in the scale pan.

The hopper 32 has affixed thereto a bracket I5I which detachably secures it to the sub-base 49 by means of the wing-nut and stud combination H52 and the locating pins I53 and I54. It is important that parts coming into contact with foodstuffs be easily removable for cleaning and sterilization. This is readily accomplished with respect to the hopper by retracting the pin I4I from the link I42 and loosening the wing-nut I52.

Spray In handling articles of foodstuffs such as oyster meats, fish fillets, etc. small particles of meat become detached therefrom and may cling to the scale pans thus destroying the accuracy of the mechanism. Furthermore, the characteristics of such articles do not always lend themselves to ready discharge from the pans without some form of lubrication. To prevent the clinging of small particles and to provide lubrication to assist in discharge, a spray I55 (Figs. 1, 5, and 7) is mounted adjacent the hopper 32. The spray I55 is fixed to a ring I56 which is secured by a series of arms I51 to the machine base 42. The ring I56, incidentally, acts as a guard to prevent accidental injury to the scale pans 38 due to carelessness in removing or replacing the buckets to 39 inclusive. The spray I55 carries two U-shaped tubular extensions I58 and I59 on wh ch are fixed the spray nozzles I60 and NH. These nozzles eject a spray of water on the scale pans 38 just prior to loading position and free the pans of meat particles and other debris. The scale pans 36 are, in this instance, perforated as shown in Fig. 1 to prevent the accumulation of water in the buckets and to allow the meat particles and other debris to flush out. Due to' this spraying, a film of water remains on the scale pan surface thereby easing the discharge of the articles mentioned.

As the machine is operated at fairly high speeds compared to the usual weighing mechanisms, provisions are also made to prevent any hesitation in the progress of articles, particularly those of the meaty nature mentioned, in their course through the hopper. This is necessary as the hesitation of one article in the hopper would cause the following to overtake it and as a result, the two articles would be deposited in one scale pan and thus destroy the accuracy of the grading. To obviate such a condition, a tube I62 leading from the spray I55 has an extension I63 which is located on one side of the mouth of the hopper 32. The extension has a series of fine holes (not shown) which spray thin films of water on the sides I64 and I65 of the hopper 32. These films of water lubricate the sides of the hopper and permit the meaty or tacky articles to pass throughthe hopper without hesitation should they inadvertently strike the hopper sides.

Overload mechanism As shown in Figs. '1 and 8, the pinion 5| drives the spider gear 56 through the intermediate gears 52 which are mounted on a stud 53 fixed on the short arm of the spring pressed lever 54. A pin I66 secures one end of an adjustable link I61 to the end of the lever 54. The other end of the link I61 is slidably mounted in a guide I68 (see also Fig. 7A) fixed in the base 42 and a compression spring I69 between the guide I68 and a collar I16 on the link I61 urges the lever 54 in a counter-clockwise direction thus maintaining engagement between the intermediate gears 52 and the spider gear 50. A spring pressed pin I1I is slidably nested in a recess of the link I61 and is disposed to engage the arm I12 of the three armed lever I13. The outer end of the arm I12 is bifurcated to receive a switch lever I14 mounted on the switch box I15 fixed to the base 42. An electrical contact switch (not shown) is in series with the circuit of the machine motor 62 and is mounted within the switch box I15. The switch is controlled by the switch lever I14, and, in the position shown in Fig. 8, will make electrical contact to close the circuit of the motor 62 thus driving the pinion 5| and the spider gear 56 in a clockwise direction. As the pinion 5| turns and drives the intermediate gear 52, it tends to disengage the intermediate gear from the spider gear 50 by virtue of the lever 54 swinging about its axis. The lever 54 is prevented from swinging by the compression spring I69 which exerts sufficient force to maintain gear engagement during normal operating conditions. Should an unusual load impose itself on the mechanism driven by the spider gear, the extra gear tooth pressure will cause the intermediate gear 52 to ride out of contact with the spider gear 56 by compressing the spring I69 as the lever 54 swings about its axis. In so doing the link I61 slides in the sleeve I68 thus moving the arm I12 and the switch lever I 14 to the left of the position as viewed in Fig. 8. This action breaks the circuit of the electrical contact switch and thereby stops the motor 62.

The lever' I13 is pivoted on a stud I16 fixed in the base 42 and has a pair of arms I11 and I18. These arms are in position to he acted upon by a pair of push rods I19 and I86 which terminate in a pair of buttons IBI and I82 (see also Fig. 1) slidably mounted on a bracket I83 fixed on the ring I56.- To re-establish the motor electrical circuit it is necessary to push the button I8I and the rod I19, acting on the arm I11, will return the switch lever I14 to the position shown in Figure 8. The buttons IM and I82 are also used for manually controlling the starting and stopping of the machine. The spring pressed pin Ill is provided to permit the arm Il2 to swing to the right should the link Mil remain in its switch disconnecting position due to the possibility of the gears 50 and 52 resting on their outer diameters after disengagement.

Scale pans Due to the use of a simple lever Weighing mechanism instead of the usual parallel link mechanism it is necessary to provide scale pans which Will concentrate the mass of the article to be weighed in a predetermined poistion. In Fig. 1, the type adopted for such articles as oyster meats, clam meats, fish fillets, etc., which are of a characterless nature, is in the form of a segment of an ellipsoid of revolution. This shape will, due to the sloping arrangement of its sides, concentrate the mass of the article on the center line of the pan and all articles weighed therein are thus gauged from a fixed datum position. Another advantage of this type of pan is that it is readily cleaned and there are no crevices available to lodge bacteria which might be injurious to the articles handled.

In Fig. 2 the pan M4 is of circular shape and is adaptable for weighing disc-like articles. The pan Hit in Fig. 3 is concial in shape capable of handling spherical or similar articles and the pan I86, Fig. 4, being in the nature of a trough will readily accommodate cylindrical formed articles.

Re'sum of operation The machine is first set by proper adjustment of the counterweight (Fig. 9), the balancing weight 86 and by providing a comb IE5 with the desired spacing of the grade controlling tooth points I25, I26, I2'I and I28. If required, a percentage increase or decrease in the count per unit measure of the grades may be had by throwing the machine out of level through adjustment of the leg sleeve I38.

An article to be sorted is then placed in the hopper 32 and, at the proper time, the door 33 is opened by the multi-lobed cam IZ I cooperating with the associated mechanism. The article is dropped in a scale pan 39, the scale pans moving in a clock-wise direction as viewed in Fig. 1. As the article is being deposited, the scale mechanism is prevented from oscillating by the lobes Hi5 and Hit of the inclined surfaces 99 and lilil (Fig. 10) encompassing the end of the scale beam 3|. As the scale mechanism continues its travel, the end of the scale beam 3! rides along the inclined edges I599 or I i6 until the weight of the article is overcome by gravity acting upon the counter-weight 35. The scale mechanism, thus finding its natural balance, continues without oscillation in the space between the inclined edges toward the leading edge Isl of the scale track 48. Just prior to the entry of the scale mechanism into the leading edge of the scale track, the selecting comb I I5 is vibrated by the multi-lobed cam acting through the mechanism provided and the proper tooth point I25, I26, I27 or i28 cooperates with the knife-edge 83 to align the scale mechanism with the selected groove 88, 89, 90, SI or 92. The bevelled members I35 assist the scale mechanism to enter the proper groove, and, as rotation continues, one of the pins 93 to 98 inclusive will discharge and then return to normal position the scale pan 30 associated with that particular scale mechanism. In the machine disclosed, the pin 93 controls the discharge of articles into the bucket 35 and, similarly, pins a l,

95, 96 and 9'! control, respectively, the discharge of articles into the buckets 36, 31, 38 and 39. The bucket 35 will receive the heaviest articles graded and the subsequent bucket will receive progressively lighter articles. Unless directed by the selecting mechanism into one of the grooves 853, 89, 9% 9!, the scale mechanisms will be guided into the lower groove 92. In this groove the pins ill and Q8 will discharge and return to normal position such scale mechanisms thus removing any article that may have remained in the scale pan til. Such action insures the presentation of an empty scale pan when it subsequently is carried to the hopper position to receive another charge.

The foregoing disclosure is to be regarded as descriptive and illustrative only, and not as restrictive or limitatlve of the invention, of which obviously embodiments may be constructed including many modifications, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention herein set forth and denoted in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a weighing and sorting machine, a beam, a material holder supported at one end of the beam, means for pivoting the beam intermediate its length, a Weight suspended from the beam intermediate its length, detent means for holding the beam in various positions, an arm fixed to the beam adjacent the other end thereof, a plurality of grooves for receiving and guiding the end of the beam adjacent the arm when the beam is tilted to predetermined positions, means for moving said end of the beam through one of said guide grooves, means to engage the arm on the beam to rotate the beam about its longitudinal axis when the beam has been moved at predetermined distance in one of said grooves, and means to periodically disengage said detent means to enable the beam to be returned to its normal position.

2. In a weighing and sorting machine, weighing means including a material holder, a grade preselecting device associated with said weighing means, said device comprising a pivotally mounted selecting comb having a plurality of teeth, a member carried by said Weighing means to selectively engage one of said teeth depending upon the weight of the material in the material holder, and means to periodically tilt the comb to engage the member with the comb.

3. In a weighing and sorting machine, weighing means including a material holder, 2. grade preselecting device associated with said weighing means, said device comprising a constantly vibrating selecting comb having a plurality of teeth, a member carried by said weighing means to selectively engage one of said teeth depending upon the weight of the material in the material holder, means to periodically cause the comb to engage the member, said machine having a plurality of supporting legs, and means to adjust said legs longitudinally to vary the machine from its normal level position to provide selection at points intermediate the normal selection provided by the teeth of the comb when the machine is in a level position.

l. In a weighing and sorting machine, weighing means including a material holder, a grade preselecting device associated with said weighing means, said device comprising a constantly Vibrating selecting comb having a plurality of teeth, a member carried by said weighing means to selectively engage one of said teeth depending upon the weight of the material in the material holder, said machine having a plurality of legs having telescoping portions, and means to adjust said telescoping portions longitudinally to vary the machine from its normal level position to provide selection at points intermediate the normall selection provided by the teeth of the comb 19 when the machine is in level position.

5 In a weighing and sorting machine, weigh- 

